A galaxy in my mind

And I’m locked behind the door.

There’s a key I must find.

Stars and planets wind,

My imagination at its core.

A galaxy in my mind.

So many worlds of all kinds,

Places of magic, science, and more.

There’s a key I must find.

My creations grow as my pencil grinds.

They live, cry, laugh, and roar.

A galaxy in my mind.

This world is a painful bind,

Tightening, if I try to soar.

There’s a key I must find.

I’m forced to fall behind,

But everything I created, I can’t ignore.

There’s a key I must find.

A galaxy in my mind.

thundering clouds roll across the sky

then swells and begins to cry.

flash of light, growl of anger, a flaming tree.

everything begins to flee.

the deadly sheets of rain 

fall and cause the fire pain.

the flame starts to die 

as the rain waves goodbye 

the wind begins to blow

the clouds, and a fawn and doe

crawl out from their protection

to examine the sky with a new connection.

water falls from every branch,

birds come out and chant:

'the storm is gone 

so now we can sing our songs.

everyone can come and play

to celebrate a new day.'

the sun appears 

and drys away the clouds tears,

and colors sparkle everywhere. 

 Leaping a pile of moldy cardboard boxes, she ran through the remains of her people’s past. Her pursuers hadn’t lost sight of her and Jesse was beginning to panic. She blindly fired shots from one of her guns, missing the soldiers, they returned fire, getting closer. Her breath became ragged with realization and fear that she was going to get caught, she stumbled as she lost coordination in her state of terror. She pushed herself to run faster and zig zag around corners. Passing an alley, she could feel tears of desperation prick her eyes, suddenly firm grip clasped around her arm and mouth, preventing her shocked scream.

The filthy hands pulled her down to the crumbling concrete and pinned her arms and in legs together into a crouch with their own limbs. Panicking in this new situation she struggled against the attacker, but the bind was too strong. Before she was about to try something harsh she heard the patrolmen whizz by, not realizing she had been pulled into the dark alley behind a dented dumpster. When the humming of engines disappeared she attempted to get up but the figure wouldn’t let her, he seemed to be listening intently but Jesse couldn’t hear anything at all. She began to get frustrated but realized getting emotional wouldn’t help her. This was all very strange she thought, who was this guy and where did he come from? Then as soon as the figure felt it was okay to relax, Jesse jumped up and in one smooth motion pointed her gun at the man who saved her.

“Who the hell are you?”

The man immediately lifted his hands in surrender. Getting shot in the head was not the thanks he was hoping to get, so he stayed silent and waited for what she’d do next. He could hear her rapid breath in the quiet city, she was exhausted from her chase with the gunmen, maybe he should have pulled her out sooner, and if she was going to shoot him, he shouldn’t have at all. She was squinting at him; it was getting late, light was barely shining through the smog sky so she couldn’t see his face clearly. He could tell she needed to be somewhere and soon, her movements said the fading light was making her antsy, but he didn’t want to move to leave in risk of getting shot. He would let her make the first move.

climb up the stairs 

follow the happy voices

im draw to the laughter

and i want to join

i can do that too 

right?

i cuddle a cat 

it makes me feel a  little

less awkward. 

she crawls up my shoulders 

and rubs her face against mine

a family face envies 

the pleasure i get 

from her purr.

hands reach to take her away

i cant let go just yet. 

i want a little longer

everyone around gets

annoyed.

why cant i be left alone.

when one sharp voice shouts 

i cringe 

do i do what he says 

or laugh it out?

what do i do?

but when one them 

repeats the words 

and mumbles under their breath 

i feel pierced in the heart

why cant anyone see 

the blood but me?

why doesnt anyone care 

that i hurt too?

or are they just blind?

fine i will do as they say

i dont need them 

right? 

i canbe happy on my own

right?

No one can look at me in the eye.

I never got a chance to say goodbye.

No one will listen or talk to me.

What will it take for them to see

that I didn't do what they think.

Somehow I was the only link.

And my family has turned their backs

believing I could target and hack

and bludgeon and torture and kill.

All I can do is count down til

they'll take me away to the room

and strap me down as death looms.

Needle enters my arm, tears roll down my face

and pray someone will find I wasn't a disgrace.

I run through school halls

down the stairs, careful not to fall.

Swinging in my hand

I hold a bloody pan.

Determined to reach home,

sadly, I know I'll be alone.

Surrounded by my teachers and class

Tears in my eyes I escape fast.

I sprint for the car,

hoping I'll make it that far.

The undead pursue.

Dear friend, I'm sorry I have to hurt you.

Screw in the key.

Familiar faces wail as I leave.

I hit the gas

and I make it home at last.

Supply the back of the van,

clothes, weapons, and food in cans,

bleach, gas and solar power,

I'm off in less than an hour.

Driving directly south,

passing hoards frothing at the mouth.

The heat will slow them down

but I don't plan to stick around.

If sun and bugs speed up rot

The more I save on shots

I often collect anything I can find

guns, knives, and fishing line.

Whizzing by the coast

flesh bubbles and roasts.

When pumping gas I’m on guard

Knowing dead don’t roam far

I park by an ocean dock

find a large boat, pick a couple locks,

bring my van aboard on top.

this'll bring the dead to a stop.

A mile of water from me to shore,

I'll anchor here til I need more.

I'm gonna avoid hell

and help anyone who’s still well.

So long, dead family and friends

but this isn't my or humanity's end.

Sister of five

Who was my mom, alive?

Grandpa owns some beehives

Cousin does professional high dive

Here's an easy one, i'm alive.

how could this have happened to me?

the things you hear about,

gossip about

whisper about.

you never imagine it being you.

why me?

i don't want to die. not now! 

im to young to die!

why me?

i have to get away.

no more pain, stop the pain!

please!

why me? 

tight ropes on my wrists.

gag in my mouth. 

i've seen so much blood, my blood! 

why me? 

oh god help me save me.

stop the torture, the pain,

so much pain!

why me?

what did i do deserve this?

how did i get to this point? 

i'm a good person!

why me?

it could've been anyone.

i have a future still 

i want to live!

why me?

i pray over and over to be saved.

if there is a god

save me. 

why me?

im broken now.

there is no hope 

there is no god.

so close to death

and in so much pain

i would end it myself.

Farewell,

the path 

ahead

is all

unknown.

The beasts 

that roam 

will not

pause to 

kill you.

No one

has come

back but 

I have 

faith in 

you.